Cork City -v- Mervue United

• Terry Flaherty
• Thu, May 26 2011


Cork City can go top of the Airtricity First Division if they can claim all three points at home as they host seventh placed Mervue Utd at Turners Cross on Thursday evening. Kick-off 6.30 p.m.

The kick-off for this tie has been brought forward to 6.30pm due to necessary work upgrading the floodlighting system at Turner’s Cross that has been held up due to high winds. Cork City come into the game unbeaten in league and cup action but will be wary of the fact that Johnny Glynn’s side ended Monaghan Utd’s unbeaten record recently with an impressive 3-1 win.

Cork secured a late win away to Wexford Youths last Friday as second half goals from Vinny Sullivan and Gearoid Morrissey claimed a 2-1 win. Mervue played out a scoreless draw in the second Galway City derby game with Salthill Devon last weekend as they missed two penalties, one in either half from Jason Molloy and Dan Cunningham, and further good missed opportunities all contributed to two points being dropped at home.

City’s leading scorer Graham Cummins is an injury doubt, while Derek O’Brien should return from a calf injury. Mervue who held Cork to a 1-1 draw at home in the first Airtricity League game played at Fahy’s Field earlier this term have a number of absentees due to work and exam commitments.

Glynn will travel south to Turners Cross without a number of key players as he will be without Jason Molloy, captain Mike Tierney, Nicky Curran, Eric Browne all through work commitments while Peter Dravins will also be absentee due to exams. Goalkeeper Ger Hanley is also a major doubt as he has not yet recovered from a shoulder injury which forced him to miss the scoreless draw in the Galway City derby with Salthill Devon last Friday night.

City boss Dunne said: “It will be a very tough match. I have looked back at our match against Mervue in March and have also watched them a couple of times, and they are a strong outfit who have shown that they can give any team a match. They are vastly improved on last year and are in a good position in mid-table, so if we are not at our game from start to finish, then we will find it very difficult.”

Glynn commented ahead of Thursday’s game “I have known since last week that the players will be unavailable. It is easier to get off early from work on a Friday but this Thursday’s match has presented us with a big headache. Fortunately we have a big squad, the bulk of whom are students. I don't know what would have happened if we had three or four doing exams on Thursday afternoon. We have also lost Mike Elwood who has gone to the USA for the summer”. Cork City
Injured: None
Doubtful: Graham Cummins
Suspended: None

Mervue Utd
Injured: Damien O’Rourke (achilles)
Doubtful: Ger Hanley (shoulder)
Unavailable: Mike Tierney (work), Eric Browne (work), Nicky Curran (work), Jason Molloy (work) and Peter Dravins (exams)
Suspended: None

Referee: Stuart Templeman
Paddy Power Odds: Cork City 4/11, Draw 3/1, Mervue Utd 15/2
Extratime prediction: Cork to continue their unbeaten run against a depleted Mervue side 2-1.